KR20130131360A - Illumination converter - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to lighting converters capable of converting light from one geometric format to another. In particular, the described light transducers can convert circular light sources such as LEDs into linear light sources useful for edge waveguides that can be used in backlights for displays.

Description

Lighting converter {ILLUMINATION CONVERTER}

In particular, spatial light modulators, including liquid crystal displays (LCDs), often use a backlight or frontlight to provide light for the display. Typical light sources for these lights are light emitting diodes (LEDs), where the LEDs illuminate the edge of the waveguide directly under the LCD (so-called direct lit) or disposed below the LCD (so-called edge-type). (edge lit)) or a combination of both. An example of a combination is where the backlight consists of an array of LEDs illuminating the waveguide, where the waveguides are tiling to form the backlight.

The optical waveguide may be a flat sheet or may be tapered and may have an edge coated with a reflective material such as a metal tape. Waveguides are usually made by molding or casting a resin into near or final shape, or from a larger sheet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to lighting converters capable of converting light from one geometric format to another. In particular, the described light transducers can convert circular light sources such as LEDs into linear light sources useful for edge waveguides that can be used in backlights for displays. In one aspect, the present invention provides an illumination converter comprising a spiral wound portion of a visible light transmissive film and a planar portion of a visible light transmissive film. The spiral winding portion of the visible light transmissive film includes a central axis that is the center around which the visible light transmissive film is wound; A light input surface perpendicular to the central axis and including a first edge of the visible light transmissive film; A reflective surface comprising a second edge of the visible light transmissive film disposed at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the first edge of the visible light transmissive film; And a light output zone parallel to the central axis. The planar portion of the visible light transmissive film extends tangentially from the spiral winding portion of the visible light transmissive film to the light output edge of the visible light transmissive film.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a backlight comprising a light converter and a light emitting diode (LED). The light converter comprises a spiral winding portion of the visible light transmissive film and a planar portion of the visible light transmissive film. The spiral winding portion of the visible light transmissive film includes a central axis that is the center around which the visible light transmissive film is wound; A light input surface perpendicular to the central axis and including a first edge of the visible light transmissive film; A reflective surface comprising a second edge of the visible light transmissive film disposed at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the first edge of the visible light transmissive film; And a light output zone parallel to the central axis. The planar portion of the visible light transmissive film extends tangentially from the spiral winding portion of the visible light transmissive film to the light output edge of the visible light transmissive film. The LED is disposed adjacent to the light input surface and can inject light into the light input surface.

The above summary is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The following figures and detailed description more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiments.

Throughout this specification, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements.
1 is a schematic perspective view of an illumination redirector.
2A-2C are schematic perspective views of a light converter.
3 shows a light converter system.
The drawings are not necessarily to scale. Like reference numerals used in the drawings indicate like elements. It should be understood, however, that the use of reference numerals to designate elements in the given drawings is not intended to limit the elements of the other drawings, which are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The present invention describes an optical distribution device for a backlight or frontlight useful for spatial light modulator displays. A light distribution device may generally be described as an illumination transducer that receives input light from a light source such as a point light source or other small cross-sectional light source and converts this light into a linear light source that can be used for example to illuminate the edge of the waveguide. have.

In one particular embodiment, the light transducer may include at least one LED, a collection optic for light emitted by the LED, and a transmissive film cut to have an input edge, an output edge, and a reflective edge. . In one particular embodiment, the input edge and output edge form a right angle, and the reflective edge is at a 45 degree angle with respect to the input edge and the output edge. The film can be rolled into a cylindrical shape, where the input edge is furthest from the output edge at the center of the cylinder and the axis of the cylinder is parallel to the output edge, where the output of the condensing optics illuminates the end of the cylindrical body formed by the input edge. .

Edge illumination can have an advantage over direct illumination because the waveguide can achieve a thinner and at the same time uniformly illuminated display. However, edge lighting presents some challenges. The aspect ratio (eg, width to thickness) of the edge of the waveguide is usually very high, often exceeding 10: 1 or even 100: 1, while typical LEDs have an aspect ratio close to one. This can cause some problems when trying to couple the LEDs to the edge of the waveguide to fully illuminate the display. In some cases, typically only a small number of LEDs are used to illuminate one or more edges of the waveguide, which may create non-uniformity of LCD illumination across the surface of the waveguide. In some cases, the etendue of the optical system may increase, with the resulting increase in thickness required for the waveguide. This can lead to a potential reduction in recycling system efficiency of the backlight using different gain films.

In some cases, LED edged displays use one of many approaches to produce white light. One such approach is to add white phosphor to ultraviolet (UV) or blue LEDs to downconvert the emitted radiation to produce white light. Phosphors typically increase the etendue of small LEDs to a greater extent than large LEDs. Another approach to producing white light is to combine red, green and blue light emitting LEDs. Conventional edge-type waveguides can make it very difficult to use such color combination optical systems to reduce etendue.

The present invention provides etendue matching between the light source and the backlight waveguide by using an illumination transducer. The described light converter uses a recycle film to increase the light efficiency of the backlight, to reduce the backlight thickness, and to reduce the material cost and consumption.

In one particular embodiment, the lighting transducer can be described as a "circular to linear" lighting transducer, ie the geometric format of the input light has been converted from circular to linear. In this embodiment, the light transducer transforms the typically low aspect ratio output of the light collected from the LED, converting it into a linear light source that may be suitable for use in edged displays.

1 shows a schematic perspective view of an illumination diverter 100 according to one aspect of the invention. In one particular embodiment, the illumination diverter 100 exhibits the properties of the visible light transmissive film 110 that can be used to form the illumination transducer as described elsewhere. The visible light transmissive film 110 may preferably be a high permeability polymer film having a loss of less than 6 dB / m for light having a wavelength of 450 to 650 nm. The loss can be due to effects such as volume or surface scattering and absorption. Suitable polymers include acrylates, in particular polymethylmethacrylates, polystyrenes, silicones, polyesters, polyolefins, polycarbonates and the like. The polymer film can be made by extrusion, cast and curing, or solvent coating.

The visible light transmissive film 110 includes a first portion 102 and a second portion 104 separated by the light output zone 127. The visible light transmissive film 110 further includes a first major surface 112, an opposing second major surface 114, and a light output edge 116 therebetween. Light output zone 127 represents a cross section through visible light transmissive film 110 perpendicular to light input edge 120. In some cases, it may be desirable to form an angle at the light output edge 116 with respect to the light output zone 127, which in itself is at an angle “θ” relative to the second edge 119 (FIG. 1). A cross section through the visible light transmissive film 110, which may be disposed.

Each of the edges described herein has a thickness “t”, where “t” is much smaller than any other dimension of the visible light transmissive film 110, which has a high aspect ratio (ie, width or length divided by thickness). ) Leads to waveguides. Width " W ", a first length " L1 " comprising the light input edge 120, and a second length comprising a first edge 121 and a second edge 119 opposite the first edge 121; Each of the other dimensions of the visible light transmissive film 110, such as “L2,” may be up to 10 times, up to 100 times, or even more than 100 times larger than the thickness “t” of the visible light transmissive film 110.

The first portion 102 of the visible light transmissive film 110 includes a reflective edge 118 disposed at a 45 degree angle to the light input edge 120, from the light input tip 125 to the light output zone 127. Extend. Reflective edge 118 may include a polished surface that may enable total internal reflection (TIR) by a reflective coating disposed on the edge surface or within a visible light transmissive film. In some cases, the reflective coating may include a metal coating such as silver, aluminum, or the like, or the reflective coating may include a dielectric coating, such as a multilayer dielectric coating including alternating inorganic or organic dielectric layers as known in the art. .

Input visible light 130 enters first portion 102 of illumination diverter 100 through light input edge 120, is reflected from reflective edge 118, passes through light output zone 127, As output visible light 140 exits illumination redirector 100 via light output edge 116 of second portion 104 of illumination redirector 100.

Each of the input visible light 130 may be a partially collimated input light that spreads through a partially collimated input cone 135 that includes a collimation angle “α”. In some cases, the collimation angle “α” may be in the range of up to about 45 degrees, up to about 40 degrees, up to about 30 degrees, up to about 20 degrees, or up to about 15 degrees, depending on the configuration of the light source, as known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the collimation angle "α" may range from about 5 degrees to about 20 degrees.

The path of each of the input visible rays 130 within the collimation angle “α” through the illumination redirector 100 may include multiple reflections from the first and second major surfaces 112, 114 by TIR or the like. Can be. In general, TIR may occur when the refractive index of the material of illumination diverter 100 is higher than the refractive index of the material in contact with the surface of illumination diverter 100. As such, in some cases, a gap, such as an air gap, is provided adjacent to each of the surfaces for which a TIR is desired. In some cases, the visible light transmissive film 110 is a low refractive index coating comprising fluorocarbons, silicon and porous materials such as very low refractive index coatings and phase-separated polyblock copolymers to enhance TIR. It may be coated on one or more surfaces. In some cases, the visible light transmissive film 110 may be coated on one or more surfaces with a reflective material, such as a metal or dielectric coating described elsewhere. Visible light transmissive film 110 may have other coatings on one or more surfaces, including hard coats, planarization coatings, and antistatic coatings.

In some cases, angle “θ” may be less than 90 degrees, for example approximately 45 degrees (not shown), and light output edge 116 may be made to reflect light in a similar manner as reflective edge 118. And may transmit light through the second edge 119 (ie, in a direction substantially the same as that of the input visible light 130 shown in FIG. 1). In some cases, angle “θ” may be greater than 90 degrees, for example approximately 135 degrees (not shown), and light output edge 116 may be made to reflect light in a similar manner as reflective edge 118. And transmit light through the first edge 121 (ie, in a direction generally opposite to the direction of the input visible light 130 shown in FIG. 1). It will be appreciated that the angle “θ” may be adjusted as desired or tiled into the waveguide, as described elsewhere, to direct the output visible light 140 through the selected output edge and finally into the waveguide. .

2A-2C show schematic perspective views of a light converter 200 according to one aspect of the present invention. Each of the numbered elements 200-227 in FIGS. 2A-2C corresponds to the similarly numbered elements 100-127 shown in FIG. 1, both of the description and function of each element. Are similar to each other. For example, the visible light transmissive film 210 of FIGS. 2A to 2C corresponds to the visible light transmissive film 110 of FIG. 1.

The first portion 202 (hereinafter referred to as the spiral winding portion 202) of the visible light transmissive film 210 including the light input edge 220 and the 45 degree reflective edge 218 is the light input edge 220. May be spirally wound to form a light input surface 222, which may be a circular face. Proceeding from FIG. 2A to FIG. 2B to FIG. 2C, the visible light transmissive film 210 is spirally wound around the central axis 250 in the winding direction 255, starting at the light input tip 225 and at least the light output zone. It continues until 227 is wound spirally. In this way, the light input edge 220 becomes a plurality of spiral wraps in the spiral winding portion 202 to form a light input surface 222 through which light can be injected, thereby converting the circular light source into a linear light source. Convert The second portion 204 (hereinafter referred to as planar portion 204) of the visible light transmissive film 210 extends tangentially from the spiral winding portion 202.

The helix may be loosely assembled to provide a gap, such as an air gap with an air interface adjacent to the visible light transmissive film, to promote TIR, or each layer of the helix may be bonded with a material having a lower refractive index than the visible light transmissive film. Can be. For example, the visible light transmissive film may be made from a polymer having a relatively high refractive index, such as polycarbonate, and the film may be optically transparent or a curable low refractive index resin such as an acrylic monomer that may be cured after winding the film spirally. It can be bonded with a thin layer of adhesive, such as an adhesive (eg, "OCA" available from 3M Company).

The spiral can be formed by attaching the beginning of the spiral to the mandrel with a controlled bonding adhesive (eg, hot melt adhesive, vacuum or mechanical clamping), using a mandrel that matches the shape of the interior of the spiral. When a curable bonding system is used to hold the spirals together, the wound film can be bonded by using actinic radiation or thermosetting systems such as ultraviolet or electron beams.

3 shows a light converter system 300 according to one aspect of the invention. In Fig. 3, the reference numerals 200-227 correspond to the similarly-signed elements 200-227 shown in Fig. 2, and both the description and function of each element correspond to each other. Similar. The lighting converter system 300 includes a lighting converter 200 having a spiral winding portion 202 and a planar portion 204 extending tangentially from the spiral winding portion 202. Spiral winding portion 202 has a central axis 250 and a light output zone 227 that separates spiral winding portion 202 from light input surface 222, light reflective edge 218, and planar portion 204. ). The light output zone 227 is parallel to the central axis 250.

The light converter system 300 further includes an LED 370 that can inject light into the light input surface 222. Optional collimation optics 365 and optional light integration cylinder 360, as known to those skilled in the art, provide LED 370 for at least partially collimating and homogenizing light entering the light transducer 200. And light input surface 222 may also be disposed.

In one particular embodiment, spiral wound portion 202 may be formed from a continuous film that forms both spiral wound portion 202 and planar portion 204. In some cases, planar portion 204 may extend to form a display waveguide (the display backlight may more commonly be referred to as a waveguide), as described elsewhere. In some cases, planar portion 204 may be coupled to a separate backlight 380 (or waveguide) that may be made from the same or different material as visible light transmissive film 210. Preferably, a gap 384 exists between the light output edge 216 of the light converter 200 and the backlight input edge 382 of the backlight 380, where the gap 384 is the thickness of the backlight 380. Can be about one quarter of the thickness of the backlight 380, or even smaller, and may be filled with a material having a refractive index that is less than the refractive index of air or visible light transmissive film 210. Gap 384 can result in improvements in system efficiency and illumination uniformity. In one specific embodiment, optional light extraction features 388 may be included in the backlight 380 to provide uniform light extraction across the front surface 386 as known to those skilled in the art.

Waveguides can be tiled to illuminate a larger display. For example, the waveguides can be arranged in a 2 × 1, 2 × 2, 3 × 2 or larger array. The waveguide may also have an illumination transducer at opposite edges, or several transducers may be used for the common waveguide. LEDs can also be located below the display panel, where thin waveguides can be tiled to form an array. This configuration can be particularly useful for displays that use zone lighting for improved contrast and power efficiency.

The visible light transmissive films 110 and 210 may be fabricated using techniques for producing waveguide sheets. This technique can be used to make thin sheet waveguides and polymer films having one or more edges with smooth and controlled angles or curvatures or both. This technique is to create an assembly of clamping plates and films or sheets by stacking two or more flexible films or sheets between two clamping plates. The assembly is then polished and polished at at least one edge. At least one of the polished or polished edges may be coated with a material such as a metal, a dielectric and a microstructured material.

Fabrication of thin film or sheet waveguides can be difficult because the edges affect the overall performance of the system. In general, an edge provides one or more of three functions. The first is to transmit light from a light source, such as an LED, the second is to reflect light along the waveguide by the TIR, and the third is to reflect light at an angle close to the right angle at the end of the backlight, thereby improving system efficiency and uniformity. Increase. In all three cases, it is important that the edge of the light guide does not increase the etendue of the light through scattering and non-orthogonal surface reflections. The manufacture of optically smooth and orthogonal surfaces in thin films or sheets using conventional processes is difficult.

In some cases, one or more of the edges may often be coated with an optical material, such as a thin layer of silver or aluminum, or have a microstructure applied to the edge as described elsewhere. In such a system, it may be important that there is a complete coating of the surface, but little extension of the coating across the edge. In some cases, for example, metal overspray onto a film or sheet plane surface can cause scattering, absorption, or loss through both scattering and absorption, and can result in non-uniform backlighting. In some cases, it may also be required to place a controlled curve at one or more edges of the film. Applications that can benefit from curved edges include, for example, efficient coupling of light from one waveguide to another.

Techniques for producing thin and efficient waveguides are described, where the thin waveguide technology allows for the use of processes for producing, in particular, transmissive waveguides with specific solvents and e-beam cured resins. This technique uses two clamping blocks of sufficient thickness to be rigid and made of a material that can be eroded or non-erodible. If they are made of erosive materials, the dimensions of the blocks for the surface to be polished and polished must be equal to or greater than the final dimensions required for the finished product. If the clamping block is made of a hard, non-erodible material, the dimension should be equal to or smaller than the final dimension. The clamping block can be constructed from a combination of a hard material that provides rigidity and a soft material that can be eroded without substantially abrasion of the polishing and polishing media.

The film laminate may be polished and polished with the edge thickness axis perpendicular to the film plane, or the laminate may be polished such that the edge thickness axis is at an angle to the film plane. The angle may range from 0 degrees to 45 degrees or more. As used herein, the terms "film" or "sheet" are used interchangeably and also include flat or tapered films or sheets. In general, the film is less than 10 mm thick, more preferably less than 1 mm thick, and most preferably less than about 200 micrometers thick.

It is also possible to polish and polish the laminate to form simple or complex curves in one or more planes. Curves having a surface approximately parallel to the normal axis of the film or sheet can be formed by polishing and polishing the edges to the desired shape. Curves with curved surfaces parallel to the film plane can be made by inserting films into the optical films that are more easily eroded than the optical film to produce a convex surface, or less rapidly eroded to produce a concave surface. Suitably highly erosive films include polyolefins, polymers having glass transitions of less than 25 degrees Celsius, porous polymers, and fluorocarbon films. The erosive material can also be a soft coating or wax on the film. Suitable films with low erosion rates include crystalline polymers, such as polyesters including polyethylene terephthalate, and amorphous polymers, including polymers or coatings filled with hard particles, including polymethylmethacrylate, epoxy, and ceramics or metals. .

Matchable polishing media can be used to create curved surfaces perpendicular to the plane of the film. It may likewise also be desirable to have mating abrasive media, in particular pre-polishing abrasive media. Suitable polishing and polishing media include felt, polymeric films, and elastic media such as rubber surfaces. Treatment conditions can affect the degree of curvature, with higher pressures between the film surface and the media generally producing greater curvature.

The film or sheet may be cut larger than the final desired size, and then assembled into a stack, and pressed into the assembly using means and clamping blocks for applying a suitable force to maintain the integrity of the stack. One or more of the edges may then be polished and polished using conventional means, in particular using lapping plates and polishing media. The laminate edge is then cleaned and a dielectric coating including a hard coating, a metal coating such as aluminum or silver, an adhesion promoting layer that primes the surface for subsequent coating, an antireflection, broadband, and spectral or polarity selective coating. And one or more of an antistatic coating.

In one particular embodiment, the edges may also be coated with a microstructured material. A suitable process for creating microstructures at the edges of each film or sheet is to apply a combination of curable resins and microstructured tools to the polished and polished surfaces of the assembly. Preferably, the microstructures are designed such that relatively small portions of the microstructures are damaged when the film or sheet stack is separated. This can be achieved by the selection of microstructures, such as having natural fracture sites in the microstructure, and by the thickness of the microstructure and resin, through a combination of resin properties, in particular the selection of strength, hardness, toughness and fracture mechanics. Can be. As an example, a brightness enhancing film (BEF) structure may be cast on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film and take a UV transmissive tool, such as a cured BEF pattern, and coat the structured side of the film with a UV curable resin. And applying the coated tool to the polished assembly along one edge, UV curing the resin, removing the tool, and peeling off the film, to the edge of the laminate.

In some cases, it may be desirable to prevent materials such as resins and coatings from penetrating between layers of the film. The material may be applied to the film before lamination or to the edges of the laminate after polishing and cleaning. Suitable materials include waxes, fluorocarbon fluids (eg, Fluorinert ™ fluids available from 3M Company), oils, polymers, and other materials that can be removed or seal the edges but remain part of the film layer. It includes.

The following is a list of embodiments of the present invention.

Item 1 is a light transducer, wherein the spiral winding portion of the visible light transmissive film-the spiral winding portion is a central axis around which the visible light transmissive film is wound, a light input surface perpendicular to the central axis and comprising a first edge of the visible light transmissive film, A reflective surface comprising a second edge of the visible light transmissive film disposed at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the first edge of the visible light transmissive film, having a light output region parallel to the central axis; And a planar portion of the visible light transmissive film extending tangentially from the spiral winding portion of the visible light transmissive film to the light output edge of the visible light transmissive film.

Item 2 is the illumination converter of item 1, wherein the light output edge of the visible light transmissive film is parallel to the central axis.

Item 3 is the illumination converter of item 1 or item 2, wherein the spiral winding portion further comprises a gap between adjacent layers of the spiral winding portion such that total internal reflection (TIR) can occur in the visible light transmissive film.

Item 4 is the light converter of item 1 to item 3, wherein the gap comprises a material having a lower refractive index than air or the visible light transmissive film.

Item 5 is the illumination converter of item 1 to item 4, wherein the reflective surface comprises a polished surface capable of supporting TIR.

Item 6 is the illumination converter of item 1 to item 5, wherein the reflecting surface comprises a metallized surface reflector, a dielectric multilayer reflector, or a combination thereof.

Item 7 is the illumination converter of item 1 to item 6, further comprising a light emitting diode (LED) disposed adjacent the light input surface and capable of injecting light into the light input surface.

Item 8 is the illumination converter of item 7, further comprising a focusing optic disposed between the LED and the light input surface.

Item 9 is the illumination converter of item 7 to item 8, further comprising a light integrated cylinder disposed between the LED and the light input surface.

Item 10 is the illumination converter of item 8, further comprising a light integration cylinder between the focusing optics and the light input surface.

Item 11 is the illumination converter of item 1 to item 10, further comprising a film waveguide disposed to receive light from the light output edge.

Item 12 is the illumination converter of item 11, further comprising a gap between the film waveguide and the light output edge.

Item 13 is the illumination converter of item 12, wherein the gap comprises a material having a lower refractive index than air or a visible light transmissive film.

Item 14 is the illumination converter of item 1 to item 13, wherein the visible light transmissive film further comprises an outer surface coating having a lower refractive index than the visible light transmissive film.

Item 15 is a backlight comprising: the light converter of item 1 to item 14; And a light emitting diode (LED) disposed adjacent the light input surface and capable of injecting light into the light input surface.

Item 16 is the backlight of item 15, wherein the planar region of the visible light transmissive film further comprises light extraction features.

Item 17 is the backlight of item 15 or item 16, further comprising a film waveguide disposed to receive the injected light from the light output edge.

Item 18 is the backlight of item 17, wherein the film waveguide further comprises light extraction features.

Item 19 is the backlight of item 17 or item 18, further comprising a gap between the film waveguide and the light output edge.

Item 20 is the illumination converter of item 19, wherein the gap comprises a material having a lower refractive index than the air or visible light transmissive film.

Unless otherwise noted, all numbers expressing feature sizes, quantities, and physical characteristics used in the specification and claims are to be understood as modified by the term "about ". Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the foregoing specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be attained by those skilled in the art using the teachings herein.

All references and publications cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, unless they directly contradict the present disclosure. While specific embodiments have been shown and described herein, those skilled in the art will understand that various alternative and / or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims (20)

As a light converter,
Spiral winding part of visible light transmitting film-spiral winding part
A central axis, the center of which the visible light transmitting film is wound;
A light input surface perpendicular to the central axis and comprising a first edge of the visible light transmissive film,
A reflective surface comprising a second edge of the visible light transmissive film disposed at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the first edge of the visible light transmissive film,
With light output zone parallel to the central axis-; And
And a planar portion of the visible light transmissive film extending tangentially from the spiral winding portion of the visible light transmissive film to the light output edge of the visible light transmissive film. The illumination transducer of claim 1, wherein the light output edge of the visible light transmissive film is parallel to the central axis. The lighting converter of claim 1, wherein the spiral winding portion further comprises a gap between adjacent layers of the spiral winding portion such that total internal reflection (TIR) can occur in the visible light transmissive film. The illumination converter of claim 3, wherein the gap comprises a material having a lower refractive index than air or a visible light transmissive film. The illumination converter of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises a polished surface capable of supporting TIR. The illumination converter of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises a metalized surface reflector, a dielectric multilayer reflector, or a combination thereof. The lighting converter of claim 1, further comprising a light emitting diode (LED) disposed adjacent the light input surface and capable of injecting light into the light input surface. 8. The lighting converter of claim 7, further comprising a focusing optic disposed between the LED and the light input surface. 8. The lighting converter of claim 7, further comprising a light integration cylinder disposed between the LED and the light input surface. 9. The lighting converter of claim 8, further comprising a light integrated cylinder between the focusing optics and the light input surface. The illumination converter of claim 1, further comprising a film waveguide disposed to receive light from the light output edge. 12. The lighting converter of claim 11, further comprising a gap between the film waveguide and the light output edge. The lighting converter of claim 12, wherein the gap comprises a material having a lower refractive index than air or a visible light transmissive film. The light converter of claim 1, wherein the visible light transmissive film further comprises an outer surface coating having a lower refractive index than the visible light transmissive film. As backlight,
A light converter of claim 1; And
And a light emitting diode (LED) disposed adjacent the light input surface and capable of injecting light into the light input surface. The backlight of claim 15, wherein the planar region of the visible light transmissive film further comprises light extraction features. The backlight of claim 15, further comprising a film waveguide disposed to receive the injected light from the light output edge. The backlight of claim 17, wherein the film waveguide further comprises light extraction features. The backlight of claim 17, further comprising a gap between the film waveguide and the light output edge. The backlight of claim 19, wherein the gap comprises a material having a lower refractive index than air or a visible light transmissive film.

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